Jumblat Calls for Resolving Naameh Landfill Issue, Ending Residents Suffering

Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat on Monday called for the closure of the Naameh garbage landfill, pointing out that its residents have been enduring environmental hazards and this issue is "no longer acceptable."

He threatened to "expose" facts in case the government did not end this problem.

“The time has come for the government to take a clear decision to close the Naameh landfill which has become a dire, painful environmental and health issue for the residents of the town and the neighboring villages," Jumblat said in his weekly editorial in the PSP's al-Anbaa electronic newspaper.

Environment Minister Mohammed al-Mashnouq stressed in March that al-Naameh landfill will be shut down in 2015 indefinitely, pointing out that a crisis plan will be set to deal with the crisis of solid waste in the country.

Accordingly, Jumblat stressed that "it is not logical that only one area in Lebanon bears the burdens of wastes from other areas without finding a fast and radical solution to this crisis."

He also asked if the government "is stronger than the contracting company or the company is stronger than the government," wondering about "the real reasons behind the government's procrastination until the moment to take the appropriate decisions."

“It has become a necessity to make a new tender after years and years of exclusive contract term extension and the gradual geographical expansion of that company,” he added

Jumblat also threatened to "expose a lot of facts, matters and information unless the government and the competent ministerial committee take decisions that can resolve the issue in a permanent manner.”

"It is true that we may understand an extension for a temporary period for the closure of the landfill, which was set for January 17, 2015 due to lack of alternatives, but we will accept it only if the future vision and the executive steps to realize that vision become clear.”

In late January, garbage was piled up in various areas of Beirut after a road-blocking protest by residents of Naameh outside the landfill prevented garbage trucks from accessing the site.

Z.A.

Y.R.